President honours freedom fighters on Champaran Satyagraha centenary

Freedom fighters from 19 states including Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi were honoured by the President.

Patna, April 17: President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday honoured freedom fighters from across the country to mark the ongoing year-long centenary celebrations of the Champaran Satyagraha.

"It is a matter of pride to honour freedom fighters, who have played important roles in the freedom movement of our country and fight against the colonial rule," Mukherjee said in his address.

He said: "I pay respect to all freedom fighters who are alive and pay homage to those who are dead. The nation cannot forget the important contributions made by freedom fighters in the country's freedom movement."

He said "Mahatma Gandhi transformed the Satyagraha into a powerful tool. Gandhi's first satyagraha began in Champaran, Bihar. In fact, with it Gandhi began a new chapter for the country.

Champaran is the laboratory of freedom movement of Satyagraha by Gandhi," he added.

The year-long celebrations to mark the 100th year of Mahatma Gandhi's first major resistance against British rule, popularly known as the Champaran Satyagraha, began last week in Bihar.

IANS